what does assisted opening mean? its basically like a switchblade? why do some sites say only a police officer or military can buy the 'automatic' knives?
An assisted opener is a mechanism contained within a folding knife that "assists" in opening the blade faster, once you push on the thumbstud or push down on a flipper. (If the knife has a flipper).
The opening speed is the same as a well-made switchblade knife. However, a switchblade uses a button on the handle. While many knife laws are vague. The ones banning switchblade knives tend to be specific. They tend to mention the button on the handle. Since A/O knives don't have buttons, they are often exempt as being defined a switchblade.
Honestly, switchblade laws are retarded. Even a conventional folding knife can be opened as quickly as a switchblade, with the right technique. So, knife makers and companies found a way around the retarded little laws made by
dumb-@$$ politicians pretending that they were actually doing something to reduce crime.
LEOs and Military personel are exempt from the retarded switchblade laws.
Most likely, when the current crop of useless politicians find out about A/O knives, they'll write more laws. But until then, A/O knives are legal to own. But they might not be legal to carry, in some places. Check your local laws before carrying.
